LEEDS can no longer make the Championship playoffs, and while mathematically Queen’s Park Rangers are not completely out of it, they will need a great deal of help from elsewhere. Yesterday their saviour was Kevin Gallen, who scored an equaliser six minutes from the end.

It was a match that turned on the needless sending-off 20 minutes from time of Leeds midfielder Shaun Derry, for flicking a hand across the face of Gallen. But Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell could not understand the red card decision.

Leeds had put the ball out as Marc Bircham was down injured and QPR were upset that Derry had first passed it to Gary Kelly, who knocked it into touch.

As referee Ray Olivier was talking to Derry and Gallen, the Leeds player lost his temper. “The decision changed the game,” said Blackwell. “It is rare for someone to be sent off for putting the ball out. I do not know what the QPR players said. As for the flick on Gallen’s face? He was removing a fly from his chin. They had a go at him. Sportsmanship or not, you cannot raise your hands and expect to get away with it.”

Leeds had been in control up until then, with midfielder Seth Johnson giving them the lead with a splendid volley after 24 minutes when Rangers had failed to properly clear a corner.

But in the 84th minute, Gallen broke clear on the right-hand side. His shot was blocked by Neil Sullivan, and the QPR midfielder reacted quickest to fire in the rebound.

Seconds later, though, Sullivan made an an outstanding save to deny Gallen a winner, diving to his left to to push the ball on to the left-hand post.

“That stop should be a great lesson to all kids watching,” said Blackwell. “Neil had nothing to do all game and then makes a save such as that.”

“It was a wonderful stop,” said QPR manager Ian Holloway, who had midfielder Adam Miller sent off in the final seconds of the match for a second bookable offence.

STAR MAN: Kevin Gallen (QPR)

QPR: Day 6, Bignot 6, Rose 6 (Edghill 75min, 5), Shittu 7, Padula 6, Cook 6, Bailey 6 (Baidoo 81min ,6), Gallen 8, Bircham 6, Miller 6, Furlong 6 (Cureton 34min ,6)

Leeds: Sullivan 6, Kelly 6, Carlisle 6, Gregan 6, Gray 7, Einarsson 6, Derry 3, Johnson 7 (Spring 88min, 5), Lennon 6 (Richardson, 64min, 6), Hulse 6, King 5 (Pugh 65min, 5)

Scorers: QPR: Gallen 84 Leeds: Johnson 24

Referee: R J Oliver Attendance: 18,182

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